Method and system for customizing a user interface to an on-demand database service

• US 9,436,345 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2012
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Ballard, Alan, Chasman, Doug, Bezar, Eric, Scotton, Mary
• Primary Examiner(s): TORGRIMSON, TYLER J
• Application Number:
  US13/528,736
• Publication Number:
  US 20120260191A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,539 Days
• Field of Search: 707/795
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2423 Interactive query statement specification based on a database schema
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24573 using data annotations, e.g. user-defined metadata
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range

Abstract

In embodiments, methods and systems for customizing a user interface to an on-demand database service. These mechanisms and methods for customizing a user interface to an on-demand database service can enable embodiments to provide a user interface designed by a tenant of the on-demand database service. The customization can include including third party content into the customized user interface, overriding a standard object, and providing content inline at a specified location.

Claims

1. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code embodied therein, the computer readable program code adapted to be executed to cause a computer to perform operations comprising:

receiving, from a user device of a user associated with a first tenant of an on-demand database service, a plurality of customizations of a user interface, the plurality of customizations including;

content stored locally on the user device, one or more information items associated with the user stored in the on-demand database service by the user, and removal of a default button from a list view of the user interface;

associating the customizations with the user;

storing the customizations in the on-demand database service;

receiving, from the user device, a request for one or more of the information items associated with the user stored in the on-demand database service by the user; and

sending, to the user device, the user interface modified according to the one or more of the customizations to generate a customized user interface, the customized user interface including a combination of the content stored locally on the user device and the requested information items, wherein the user interface is modified prior to receipt by the user device.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the request is made by an action that pulls up the user interface, which is a main page, for the user.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the request is received from a system of the user in response to the user activating a button, and wherein the request is to view the user interface which includes a list that is created by activating the button.

4. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein at least a second one of the customizations of the user interface includes a custom button.

5. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein the custom button is added to a footer of the customized user interface.

6. The computer program product of claim 4, wherein the custom button is usable to provide a query that returns a list as defined by the user.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the customized user interface presents the content by placing the content in line on the customized user interface for viewing by the user.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the at least one of the customizations indicates a location selected by the user where the content is to appear on the user interface, such that the customized user interface presents the content at the indicated location.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the user device runs an application capable of accessing the one or more information items associated with the user stored in the on-demand database service by the user.

10. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the user interface corresponds to a sales process management application of the on-demand database service.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the one or more information items associated with the user stored in the on-demand database service by the user includes contact data.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the one or more information items associated with the user stored in the on-demand database service by the user includes account data.

13. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes another default button associated with a viewing action.

14. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the one or more information items associated with the user are stored in at least one record of the on-demand database service by the user.

15. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the on-demand database service stores additional information associated with the user that includes a copy of the user'"'"'s most recently used items.

16. The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the request received from the user is further for the additional information that includes the copy of the user'"'"'s most recently used items, and wherein the customized user interface that is displayed to the user further presents the additional information associated with the user that includes the copy of the user'"'"'s most recently used items.

17. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the one or more information items associated with the user stored in the on-demand database service by the user includes contact data that is maintained by the user in the on-demand database service, such that the at least one of the customizations comprises the contact data maintained by the user in the on-demand database service, the request from the user is for the contact data maintained by the user in the on-demand database service, and the customized user interface presents the contact data maintained by the user in the on-demand database service.

18. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the customizations of the user interface are received by the user to customize the user interface for use by the user.

19. A system, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions executable to implement operations, the operations comprising;

receiving, from a user device of a user associated with a first tenant of an on-demand database service, a plurality of customizations of a user interface, the plurality of customizations including;

content stored locally on the user device, one or more information items associated with the user stored in the on-demand database service by the user, and removal of a default button from a list view of the user interface;

associating the customizations with the user;

storing the customizations in the on-demand database service;

receiving, from the user device, a request for one or more of the information items associated with the user stored in the on-demand database service by the user; and

sending, to the user device, the user interface modified according to the customizations to generate a customized user interface, the customized user interface including a combination of the content stored locally on the user device and the requested information items, wherein the user interface is modified prior to receipt by the user device.

20. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

receiving, from a user device of a user associated with a first tenant of an on-demand database service, a plurality of customizations of a user interface, the plurality of customizations including;

content stored locally on the user device, one or more information items associated with the user stored in the on-demand database service by the user, and removal of a default button from a list view of the user interface;

associating the customizations with the user;

storing the customizations in the on-demand database service;

receiving, from the user device, a request for one or more of the information items associated with the user stored in the on-demand database service by the user; and

sending, to the user device, the user interface modified according to the one or more of the customizations to generate a customized user interface, the customized user interface including a combination of the content stored locally on the user device and the requested information items, wherein the user interface is modified prior to receipt by the user device.